TinCan [ SHORT STORY ]

One drunken night, Tin kissed Can in front of their group members. The next day, they started avoiding each other, afraid to confront their real feelings for each other. Now their friendship is on the line...

I tried to go to sleep. I honestly did but the thoughts on my head wouldn't let me. After almost an hour of lying in one spot of my bed, tossing and turning around, and just staring at the ceiling, I decided to get up and trudge down to the kitchen.

It was eerie silent like it always was at this ungodly hour in our dorm. All the members are already sleeping. I sighed, sitting on one of the stools at the kitchen counter, with my phone in one hand and a glass of warm milk on the other. I took a sip and stared at my phone.

I wanted to call Tin and talk, or maybe ask him to play Overwatch w/ me, but I was afraid for some reason. As if I was nervous bothering him. I have never felt that before, I have never really cared if I was bothering Tin whenever I call him.

Why was it now so different?

Maybe we should talk about the other night. Maybe that would clear my mind. But am I ready for that awkward conversation?

Tin would probably just blow it off and sum it up as just some insignificant incident that has passed. He's always nonchalant like that. So unlike me.

I am considerably weaker emotionally than he is, at least in my opinion. He never takes anything offensively. For someone who wears his heart on his sleeves, Nothing ever seems to be a serious ordeal.

And I am the complete opposite. I always tend to hide my feelings, up until they explode and blow up. I always play tough Can but I do break easily. And Tin was just too oblivious to see, because to him, I was just a brother/friend nothingness

He could kid around me, borrow my clothes, kiss me on the cheek, have me carry him on my back, buy me jewelry and things that match with his. He could hold my hand, look me deep in the eyes, and tell me he 'loves me', that I'm his 'family' and that he'll always be there for me no matter what because I wasn't supposed to take them seriously.

I was a bro.

And I was stupid. No matter what P'Techno or Ai'Good or N'Kla. Or anyone else has clandestinely said to me... I knew Tin doesn't have any romantic feelings for me.

Because he only sees me as a BROTHER

And if he ever did, wouldn't have I known?

I know everything about him when he likes someone. He would always try (emphasis on try) to use fluttering words when talking, he would tilt his head a little to the left when talking making his hair move and sway charmingly, and he always wet his lips with his tongue.

Others do not notice, because to them he is Cassanova. He is, in fact, the most handsome face in the world. He is Perfect Prince Charming.

But I know my best friend.

He does love me, but not the kind of love everyone suspects. Sure he gets jealous when someone else gets my attention, but that was because he is Tin. He always gets jealous. That's a part of him I think only I get, understand, and accept.

My thoughts dissipated with another sip of milk.

Should I call him? According to my phone's clock, he was probably still up playing some videogames instead of studying our English lessons. But if I do call him, is this a conversation that needs to happen now?

I guess the universe decided for me, my phone vibrated in my hands and the name of the boy on my thoughts showed up on the screen. I clicked the message and it read:

Get out of your bed and come to the veranda.

I was hesitant at first, but I left my drink on the counter and quietly bolted out of the kitchen, tipping pass P'Techno and Ai'Kla room towards the veranda near the living room.

I opened the sliding glass door and found Tin lying on one of the couch there with his arms folded across his chest. I walked towards him and sat on the other couch across him. "What's up?" I asked coyly.

His head snapped up and a smile flashed across his face. "I can't sleep." He yanked his body and changed his position, sitting over the couch with his legs crossed, and a pillow buried between his thighs. "And I miss you".

I rolled my eyes. "I thought we're not supposed to be seeing each other."

He rubbed the back of his head, "Said who?".

I shrugged. "No one." Silence fell upon us for a good few minutes. "So," I broke it. "Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

He looked like he was hesitating at first, "Yeah," he began before shifting rather awkwardly. "P'Techno, for some reason thinks that you and I had some sort of an apocalyptic fight."

I snickered and moved my eyes away from looking at him to looking at the view from the veranda. "Tell P'No to calm his overprotective big brother tits out."

He chuckled. "I did tell him, but he suggested that I come and work out looming unattended matters with you," he said while making air quotes with his hands, and then snorted, "whatever that means".

"What looming matters?" I asked while I rested my elbow on the side edge of the couch.

"I don't know, but I am guessing it is about the other night."

I swallowed. Were we gonna talk about that night, right now?

He immediately caught my reaction, "But if you don't want to..."

"No," I quickly said, "It's fine. We can if you want to." I added. Better do it now, once and for all, I told myself.

His hands raced across his face, he looked up at the sky and sighed. "It's such a nice night," he started. He looked back to me, "can we just sleep here tonight?"

My jaw fell to the floor.

He shrugged. "I mean, it's nice and chilly, but not freezing out here. Why not right? We can talk about that thing the other night later, and just enjoy each other's company for now."

I wanted to argue but easily decided not to. I changed my seating position, now I am facing him, and took one huge throw pillow and covered my lap with it.

He stood up and walked to the couch where I was seated. He climbed up and lay beside me, close enough so his head is rested on the pillow on my lap. I just let him be like I always do. He is looking at the sky, and I pretended to do the same.

After a few comfortable minutes of silence, I spoke up. "We aren't sleeping here tonight, aren't we?"

"Nah." He replied, "but only if you want to."

Silence overtook again.

"Do you think we're in love?" He blurted out. He tilted his head a little to move his bangs away from his eyes.

I narrowed my eyes, as I looked into him, catching him already looking at me. "What?"

He snickered. "Just a thought. P'No has been going on about how obvious it is that you and I were in love."

I wanted to tell him that P'No told me that too, but he probably already knew.

"What do you think?" I asked. I immediately wanted to take them back, afraid of his answer.

He took a little pause. My heart started to beat faster. I caught him wetting his lips with his tongue, twice.

"I think anything is possible right?" He started. "But we're not gay so how can we be in love, you know."

He immediately turned it around. He paused again and looked into me. "Unless you have something to tell me."

I snorted, "Don't flatter yourself,"

There I went again, covering up my emotions. Why couldn't I just tell him the truth?

Tin's hand reached out for mine, and we instantly interlocked as if it's an automatic response. "I think we'd make a beautiful couple," he said.

I snorted again, "We'd be fighting all the time."

He snickered, "Then we'd know if we're meant to be." He started playing with my thumb. "We'd be a legit couple who constantly fights about silly stuff but still love one another."

"Yeah, too bad we don't see each other that way." I sarcastically remarked. I wanted to sound as unaffected as I can be by his words but deep inside, they were breaking my heart

Tin took a long pause before answering. "Yeah, too bad." He looked away and retreated his hand.

Silence took over once again, but it was defeating. The air felt a lot colder too.

"About the other night..." He started, breaking the silence this time. "I am sorry for kissing you."

I didn't know what to answer, how to answer, or if I even need to answer. I chose the latter.

"I know I am not supposed to do that." He said.

Of course, he is sorry, he was not supposed to do that.

Of course, that kiss meant nothing.

For some reason, my eyes started to water, and as hard as I try not to, my tears started to roll down. I tried wiping them away as quickly as I could.

I looked at Tin only to find him already looking at me.

Our eyes met, and this time it felt different.

Suddenly, I felt his hand reach out to the back of my head, pulling me in closer to his face.

He kissed me. And I kissed him back.

This time, there's no alcohol to blame. Only our feelings---our stupid feelings.

We paused, pulled back, and looked at each other in the eyes. I felt somewhat touched to see I was no longer the only one crying.

"Sorry, it took me too long to realize" he uttered. "I love you, Can. I am in love with you. Always have been."

I caught him wet his lips again.

And this time, I was the one who kissed him first.

***END***